title: Peripheral facial palsy in the past: contributions from Avicenna, Nicolaus Friedreich and Charles Bell.
abstract: This study provides historical documents of peripheral facial palsy from Egypt, Greece and Rome, through the middle ages, and the renaissance, and into the last four centuries. We believe that the history of peripheral facial palsy parallels history of the human race itself. Emphasis is made on contributions by Avicenna and Nicolaus Friedreich. Controversies about the original clinical description by Charles Bell are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry, Botucatu School of Medicine, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. luanlire@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Luiz Antonio de Lima
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000266:history*; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history*; D012613:Sculpture / Q000266:history*